Tyndall families share breakfast with Santa

By BRIANTI DOWNING / The News Herald

Published: Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 05:38 PM.

“Breakfast with Santa is a hallmark holiday event for Tyndall,” said Corey Coleman, marketing director for the 325th Force Support Squadron. “It’s a great way to appreciate military spouses, families and kids.”

Coleman said families, with the exception of those with a deployed parent, paid $5 for tickets, but every child left with a toy worth $10 to $20. To make the event possible, they depended on sponsors: Tyndall Federal Credit Union, Armed Forces Benefits Network, University of Phoenix, Dunkin Donuts and USAA.

Jennifer Popovich brought her daughter Audrey Lembo, 5, to the event. Popovich said families get a lot of support from Tyndall Air Force Base.

“Dads are deployed and not able to be with their families, and the support for the kids is amazing,” she said.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE — Bryson Neal, 10, and his little brother, Braylon, 9, stood in line to see Santa Claus at Tyndall Air Force Base’s Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday morning.

Bryson planned to ask Santa for a Kindle Fire HD, so he could use it to play Temple Run. Braylon wanted a Buzz Lightyear action figure.

Further down the line, Cameron Lane, 3, said she was asking for a big dollhouse from Santa.

The kids were just three out of 800 military people attending the two-part event. Four hundred family members attended each two-hour session.

Military families were treated to a choice of breakfast foods, including doughnuts, pancakes, bacon and fruit. After a hearty breakfast, children waited their turn to see Santa Claus, who sat them on his lap to hear their wish list.

Then, every child at the event was given a toy based on their gender and age. Braylon received a small fire and rescue truck, while his big brother was given a glow-in-the-dark football.

After the festivities, some children opted to go in a separate room to do craft projects and watch “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.”

“Breakfast with Santa is a hallmark holiday event for Tyndall,” said Corey Coleman, marketing director for the 325th Force Support Squadron. “It’s a great way to appreciate military spouses, families and kids.”

Coleman said families, with the exception of those with a deployed parent, paid $5 for tickets, but every child left with a toy worth $10 to $20. To make the event possible, they depended on sponsors: Tyndall Federal Credit Union, Armed Forces Benefits Network, University of Phoenix, Dunkin Donuts and USAA.

Jennifer Popovich brought her daughter Audrey Lembo, 5, to the event. Popovich said families get a lot of support from Tyndall Air Force Base.

“Dads are deployed and not able to be with their families, and the support for the kids is amazing,” she said.

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